KOLKATA: The IPL auction strategy is often confusing. Take the case of Venkatesh Iyer. Kolkata Knight Riders released him ahead of the 2025 auction, only to buy him back for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore, signaling grand plans for the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, who has been a core member of the franchise since 2021.
In contrast, Ajinkya Rahane was almost an afterthought on the second call and narrowly avoided an IPL snub with a base price of Rs 15 crore. When Rahane was named captain and Iyer was named vice-captain, it seemed to be a temporary arrangement before the baton was passed.
As the season progressed, the roles reversed. While Iyer was out of form and fading from the spotlight, Rahane grabbed his lifeline and emerged as KKR’s most reliable batsman in a disappointing campaign. Iyer seemed bothered by his price tag and captaincy comments, and KKR eventually released him again, with Royal Challengers Bangalore signing him for Rs 7 crore in 2026 – a reminder of how quickly patience can run out.
Now, the spotlight is back on 37-year-old Rahane, who is leading KKR once again. His consistent hitting last season and the lack of strong leadership replacements tipped the scales in his favor. “The key is always to stay positive and see challenges as opportunities,” Rahane said before the season.
Rahane’s captaincy career has been a mixed bag. He was relieved of his duties as captain of Rajasthan Royals midway through IPL 2019 but his reputation soared after leading India to a historic victory in the 2020-21 Test series in Australia. However, questions remain about his tactical vision and ability to turn things around as KKR finished eighth last season.
As a batsman, Rahane provides stability. Last season, he topped the charts for KKR, scoring 390 runs in 13 games, stabilizing the innings when the team struggled. Although his strike rate hovered below 150, his temperament and ability to withstand pressure proved valuable, especially compared to Iyer’s modest returns of 142 runs in 11 innings.
KKR does have other leadership options – Rovman Powell, Cameron Green, Linku Singh, Sunil Narine and even the New Zealand team – but each has limitations in terms of experience, workload or preference. Therefore, Rahane remains the safest bet.
The New Zealand trio of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra add explosive firepower, with Allen and Seifert already showing their destructive potential in the T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa at Eden Gardens. With Tim Southee on the coaching staff and Abhishek Nayar as head coach, KKR have maintained continuity in their approach.
For Rahane and Nayar, IPL 2026 is not just another season but a decisive test of leadership and belief.